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Update: Staffer killed in school shooting identified by police

AP

Police secure the scene near Sparks Middle School after a shooting in Sparks, Nev., on Monday, Oct. 21, 2013. Authorities are reporting that two people were killed and two wounded at the Nevada middle school. Kevin Clifford/AP

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Police say a student opened fire at a middle school in Reno, killing a staff member who was trying to protect other children. The gunman was also dead, though police said no shots were fired by law enforcement. The staff member has been identified as math teacher Michael Landsberry. Two other students were critically injured.

Family members have identified the staff member who was killed in a shooting at a Nevada middle school as math teacher Michael Landsberry, 45.

A student at Sparks Middle School in Reno opened fire on campus just before the starting bell Monday, wounding two boys and killing Landsberry, who was trying to protect other children, Sparks police and the victim's family members said.

"In my estimation, he is a hero. ... We do know he was trying to intervene," Reno Deputy Police Chief Tom Robinson said about the fallen staff member.

Landsberry was a military veteran who leaves behind a wife and two stepdaughters, said his sister-in-law Chanda Landsberry. She said she wasn't surprised he stepped in to stop the rampage.

Twenty to thirty students witnessed the tragedy that also left the lone suspected gunman dead, police said. It's unclear whether the student committed suicide, but authorities say no shots were fired by law enforcement.

The motive isn't yet known. Names of the suspect and victims haven't yet been released.

"As you can imagine, the best description is chaos," Robinson said. "It's too early to say whether he was targeting people or going on an indiscriminate shooting spree."

Students from the middle school and neighboring elementary school were evacuated to the nearby high school, and classes were canceled. The middle school will remain closed for the week.

A student at a Nevada middle school opened fire on campus, killing a staff member who was trying to protect other children, police said Monday.

The suspected gunman was also dead, and authorities say no shots were fired by law enforcement.

Two other students were critically injured in the violence that erupted around 7:15 a.m., shortly before classes began Monday. One is out of surgery and the other is doing well, according to police.

Police said between 150 and 200 officers responded to the shooting.

Students from the middle school and next door elementary school were evacuated to the nearby high school, and classes were canceled.

At the evacuation center, parents walked with their arms around their children, some of whom were in tears.

"We came flying down here to get our kids," said Mike Fiorica, whose nephew attends theschool. "... It's really chaotic. You can imagine how parents are feeling. You don't know if your kid's OK."

The shooting happened on the school's campus, but outside the school building itself, according to police.

Gov. Brian Sandoval issued a statement after hearing about the shooting.

"I was deeply saddened to learn of the horrific shooting at Sparks Middle School this morning. My administration is receiving regular updates and the Nevada Highway Patrol is assisting at the scene," he said. Sandoval extended his thoughts and prayers to those affected.

"No words of condolence could possibly ease the pain, but I hope it is some small comfort that Nevada mourns with them. I stand by to be of any assistance if there is anything that can be done," Reid said in a statement.

The school, located in a working class neighborhood, enrolls about 700 students in 7th and 8th grades.

The violence erupted nearly a year after a gunman horrified the nation by opening fire in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., leaving 26 dead. The Dec. 14shooting reignited debate over how best to protect the nation's schools and whether armed teachers should be part of that equation.

Washoe County School District held a session in the spring in light of the Connecticut tragedy to educate parents on what safety measures the district takes.

Sparks, a city of roughly 90,000 that sprung out of the railway industry, lies just east of Reno.

Washoe County School District spokesman Charles Rahn says the middle school and next door Agnes Risley Elementary School have been evacuated to Sparks High School. Rahn said the middle and elementary schools will be closed Monday.

Washoe County School District spokesman Charles Rahn says the middle school and the adjacent Agnes Risley Elementary School have been evacuated to Sparks High School. Rahn said the middle and elementary schools will be closed Monday.